If money is the root of all evil, then why do churches want it so much?

Question

Okay, it's Asia Carrera's question, not mine, but I still think it's a good one...

Answer 1

Okay, I'm going to get myself into trouble, but here goes....

Of course the quote is "the _love_ of money...." but I do wonder if we (Christians) don't heed it enough. I'm not saying that Christians are inherently more greedy than others (say what you will about conservatives, studies show they give more to charities than their liberal counterparts http://usconservatives.about.com/b/a/257377.htm), but I think there is more danger in loving money than we like to admit.

This quote is from I Timothy chapter 6. It is from the apostle Paul to Timothy, a young preacher. Paul warns him that some may try to corrupt him by convincing him that godliness is a means of financial gain. Many televangelists teach this idea today. If you give your life to Christ (and your bank account to them), God will make you rich.

Not so.

Paul goes on to say that while "godliness with contentment is great gain," we should be content with food and clothing. I don't believe Paul means financial gain, but spiritual gain. As much as we (Christians) want that, how many of us would really be content with just food and clothing? I personally would be a little freaked out at not having a home. I would find it really hard to be content with just food and clothing. And that's convicting.

The New Testament is filled with warnings of what would happen to the church if it fell away from the original hierarchy (each local congregation answering to God, not to a hierarchy of churches), and if "wolves in sheep's clothing" were allowed to come in and use the flock for their own personal gain.

As a Christian, I give money back to God. Part of the way I do that is through the collection at my local congregation. That money is used to keep a modest building and to help support those in need. Our congregation makes a public record of how funds are spent. I know buildings are a big deal for some churches. I've seen buildings that have to cost in the millions, and I just don't get that. God doesn't live in the building. He lives in us. So I do ask myself at times when I see the lavish trappings, "Who is this really for? God, or someone's ego?" We can love money and try to cover it by using it for something we call good, but the collection was never intended to create an impressive building or to make sure the preacher drives a Lexus. It was meant to properly care for those in need.

One of the things I personally wrestle with is whether or not we should even worship in "church buildings." The church is the people, not the building. They didn't have buildings in the New Testament churches. They met "house to house." Spending less on the structure would certainly allow more to be spent on the poor.

I think we (Christians) have to ask ourselves how well we're doing and whether or not we have allowed those to do just what Paul warns Timothy about - to convince us that godliness is a means of gain. It is the desire to be rich and not hatred of the poor that causes us to neglect them.

Answer 2

It is not money that is the root of all evil it is the LOVE of it, churches know the good they can do with it.
Why doesn't Asia Carrera ask own questions?

Answer 3

money isn't the root of all evil - the love of it is. And I believe you misunderstand the purpose of "Churches wanting money" - they want you to be in obedience to God so that you can have the blessing of God on your life (tithes and offerings - don't rob God or you're cursed with a curse...scripture in Malachi). It's for your benefit, not theirs. On a purely physical practical note: How do you think the light bill gets paid, or the teaching materials, or air time or the free hand-outs in community outreaches, literature and a thousand and one other things. What about building upkeep, insurance, the bus that picks up your kids etc, etc. If you think it all goes in the Pastor's pocket - I can assure you it doesn't!

Answer 4

You assume that whoever said that is correct , but actually we all know ( the church included) that money in itself is not at fault here . The people are the perpetrators by doing evil deeds because of money .
So take the money and let it bring food, good health and relief from all ills to as many as you can . Certainly there is no evil in that but God's blessing.

Answer 5

Your missing a very important word in your quote.

The LOVE of money is the root of all evil.

We must all use the monetary system put in place by our governments.

As long as this money and the system that it stands for do not become our GOD and all that we strive for and toward, we are not putting it above our own creator.

Money is needed to bring Gods word to us and others and should be used for that purpose. The problem comes when some of us believe we need a private jet in order to do this.

Answer 6

The adage you refer to is "The desire for the money is the root of evil." It isn't money itself, but the excess desire. This idea is expressed in the Latin as "Cupiditas radix malorum est." We have in English the word "cupidity" which we use to describe the single-minded pursuit of money.

Churches occupy buildings in the real physical world, and doing so, they require money for maintenance and upkeep and for paying for such things as utilities, services and salaries for church employees. In this respect, a church is much like a family, having need of money to meet its obligations.

One wonders if the pusuit of money expressed by the millions of people going off to work every day might be condemned as sinful, or just a necessary part of life.

Answer 7

You have misquoted the Bible.
It is the LOVE OF money that is the root of all MANNER OF evil.
Churches need money to support their many outreach programs. Granted some churches swindle people, but most churches do spread the gospel. The Bible says the laborer is worthy of his hire---in other words the preacher should be paid.

Answer 8

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The love of money is the root of all evil.

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

You know that Ed.
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Wayne Murray

Answer 9

That is a mis-quote.
Actually, the correct wording is from 1 Tim. 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.

You see, it is the love of money that causes the problem. Money in and of itself serves a valid purpose.

Answer 10

Most churches aren't rich, some barely manage to keep their doors open. Churches use that money to help the homeless, starving people, victims of natural disasters, and children's charities world wide. Churches give away most of the money that they take in.